Extratime.ie's Team of the Month – May & June

Extratime.ie is delighted to announce the winners of their usual Player/Manager/Team of the Month.

And, after hours of deliberation amongst the team, we've come up with our best starting XI as well singling out one player and one manager in particular for the praise we feel they deserve.

The Awards span both divisions, Premier and First, and also include performances in all the domestic cup competitions. Here is our first selection of the 2014 season and our reasons behind them.

Please note that following a lengthy two-week break in domestic action in June, here at Extratime HQ, we've decided to pick the Best XI from across both months.

Feel free to share your opinions on the selection below in the comments section or on our Twitter feed by tweeting @ExtratimeNews.

Goalkeeper

Barry Murphy (Shamrock Rovers)

Playing in seven of the Hoops' matches throughout May and June, Barry Murphy racked up an impressive five clean sheets in total. Keeping the likes of Derry City, Athlone Town and UCD all quiet, the 29-year-old Dubliner more than proved his custodial worth. Now just six points off the summit with a game in hand over both St. Patrick's Athletic and Dundalk, Trevor Croly's men might just have enough to break into the top three and once again become league champions – and Murphy's certainly going to play a huge hand (or two) in just how close they go.

Defenders

Lee Desmond (Shelbourne)

Not satisfied with sitting back and defending, Lee Desmond has often been the epitome of attack as the best form of defence. Scoring two very important goals in the month of May – one apiece against Waterford United and Finn Harps – the 19-year-old has risen to the occasion more than once.  Add two clean sheets in each month to that achievement and it's clear the youngster, who once played with Newcastle United, has a lot of potential and could turn out to be one of the revelations of the season – Shels' decision to bring U19 talent up could be key to a memorable campaign that currently sees them top of the First Division.

Pat Sullivan (Longford Town)

A pillar at the back in recent times, his performances have seen The Town shoot past Galway FC in the First Division's league standings. Helping Tony Cousins' men keep clean sheets in four of their last league ties, Sullivan was also key to the three matches they didn't concede in for May. Defensively sound, Sullivan has formed a great partnership with his team-mates to give Longford a tremendously strong foundation for a title challenge.

Brian Gartland (Dundalk)

Unbeaten in the league all throughout May having conceded just one goal, the only loss they succumbed to was, unfortunately in the Setanta Cup final against Sligo Rovers. Clearly, their defensive duties show no signs of being neglected as they used that strength as the platform for an excellent few matches with few blemishes to show. Gartland was solid at the heart of the defence, featuring in four of their five clean sheets. Commanding on the ball and eager to set up the next attack, he showed great hunger along with the rest of his team-mates; he even got on the scoresheet against Limerick FC, and then in June he continued that trend, netting against UCD in the league and Sligo in the FAI Cup.

Midfielders

Jake Keegan (Galway FC)

Notching three goals throughout the month of May, Galway's Jake Keegan popped up at some very key moments to help guide his side to a highly successful string of results. Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers B and Cobh Ramblers all fell victim to the American's deadly finishing as Tommy Dunne's charges have managed to keep the pressure on at the top end of the First Division table. And although they lost heavily against Longford Town recently as well as being dumped out of the EA Sports Cup by Wexford Youths, Keegan saw his good form continue in June with a goal against UCD in the FAI Cup. At just 23, he'll be eager to get his side to the Premier Division, and after that who knows how far his talents could bring him?

Daryl Horgan (Dundalk) – Player of the Month

Instrumental in his side's commanding position at the top of the table these past few weeks, Horgan has been an immensely important player for Stephen Kenny's men. Not only did the Lilywhites man manage to score four goals in May, but he also had a massive hand in a healthy portion of the 28 goals they managed as a unit that month. Add to this the fact that he bagged two more goals in a disrupted June, and it's clear he is absolutely vital to their cause. Not one to hammer in a plethora of goals in one match only to go missing for a few others, Horgan has, to his credit, been extremely prolific in recent weeks.

Chris Forrester (St Patrick's Athletic)

One of the main men at the moment in Richmond Park, Chris Forrester has procured quite a number of magical moments already this season. Setting up the 91st minute winner against Cork City towards the tail-end of last month as well as scoring two goals in their massive 6-0 win over struggling Drogheda United and another versus Bray Wanderers in their 3-2 win in June, April's SWAI Player of the Month was once more central to much of what the Saints created – his through balls and excellent vision, the instigators behind many of their goals. The 21-year-old is one of the most exciting players in the division right now and he's sure to be key in turning around the four-point gap between them and Dundalk.

Mark Salmon (Longford Town)

Romping to a massive 3-0 win to humble Galway FC at Eamonn Deacy Park towards the end of June, the team with the best goal difference in the League of Ireland's second tier are certainly getting the results they need. Not only that, though but they're doing so in style. Mark Salmon's stunning belter against Tommy Dunne's men that won the internet's heart typified the pizzazz and panache that they bring to their game. Returning to the fold seamlessly after an extended knee injury lay-off he sustained not too long ago, his confident skippering in the middle of the park might just win them the promotion they fought so hard to achieve last season.

Strikers

Conan Byrne (St. Patrick's Athletic)

Scoring five goals throughout the month of May combined with another four in June, Conan Byrne was one of the most clinical members of the team, guiding his side to a decent league display. Sitting third in the table having scored the second-highest amount of goals in the league, St Pat's can be comfortable in the goal-scoring assets they possess. Having lost just two league games so far this season, the Dublin-based side will be eager to see Byrne continue to rattle the net with regularity.

Mark O' Sullivan (Cork City)

Although he only managed to score two goals last month, Mark O' Sullivan is fully deserving of his place in this month's Best XI because he soon followed that up with a trio of strikes in June. With a successful career playing for Avondale United in the Munster League now behind him, the Leesiders' striker has done ever-so-well to make the the step up look close to effortless. Overall, he's held the line well and has done his best to make the most of the chances that have come his way – his brace against Limerick in the Munster Derby, the icing on the cake.  

David O' Sullivan (Longford Town)

Having arrived at the club back in January of 2013, it didn't take long for the 26-year-old to announce his arrival at the club in a positive way; he bagged a hat-trick on his debut and went on to become the division's leading goalscorer. And this season, he's continuing to be a major force up front. In total, the Longford Town striker converted six times in May to help his side to five victories in all competitions, including a brace in their huge 6-0 win over fellow promotion contenders, Shamrock Rovers B. He netted just once in June – against Athlone Town – but he also put in a  man of the match performance against Finn Harps a few days later, and has been a regular threat up front.

Manager

Stephen Kenny (Dundalk FC) – Manager of the Month

There can be little room for argument here. Stephen Kenny has been brilliant so far this season, but recently he's out-done himself. Guiding his charges to nine wins from 12 matches in the last two months, going undefeated in the league and riling up the players to score 23 goals last month, 10 in June as well as taking home seven well-deserved clean sheets –  it's been a prosperous few weeks. It remains to be seen if they can keep their great form going, but Kenny is the man to lead them there, without a shadow of a doubt.